London black cab TX6 confirmed for 2027
London's iconic black cab is set for a major update, with LEVC confirming that its next-generation taxi, the TX6, will arrive during the second half of 2027.
The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has provided the first glimpse of the vehicle that will eventually replace the familiar TX currently operating across the capital.
Although the manufacturer has released only teaser images so far, they reveal that the new TX6 will retain many of the characteristics traditionally associated with a London taxi, while introducing a more modern design and new technology.
Development of the vehicle is already underway, with LEVC saying it intends to work closely with taxi drivers and other industry stakeholders before the new model reaches London's streets.
The TX6 will succeed the LEVC TX, which entered service in 2018 and represented a major change for London's taxi industry.
Instead of relying on a conventional diesel engine, the TX introduced LEVC's eCity range-extender technology. Its battery allows the vehicle to operate in zero-emission electric mode, while a small petrol engine can generate electricity when additional range is required.
The system was particularly significant for professional taxi drivers, who often cover considerably greater daily distances than ordinary motorists and need the flexibility to continue working without lengthy interruptions.
LEVC has not yet confirmed what powertrain will be used in the TX6.
With the new model still some way from production, details including battery capacity, electric range, charging performance and whether a range-extender engine will remain have yet to be announced.
However, environmental performance and urban air quality are expected to remain central to the development of the new taxi.
The first TX6 teaser images suggest that LEVC is taking an evolutionary rather than radical approach to the exterior design.
Its silhouette remains instantly recognisable as a London taxi, with a tall passenger compartment, substantial body and familiar rounded front-end appearance.
LEVC Global Design Director Brett Boydel said designing the next generation of the black cab represented both a significant responsibility and an opportunity.
According to LEVC, the intention is to preserve the purposeful and recognisable qualities of the existing taxi while giving the TX6 a more contemporary character appropriate for the future of urban transport.
More detailed photographs and specifications are expected to be revealed as development progresses.
Unlike an ordinary passenger vehicle adapted for taxi work, London's purpose-built black cabs must comply with a detailed set of Transport for London requirements.
LEVC has confirmed that the TX6 is being developed with TfL's Conditions of Fitness in mind.
These requirements cover areas including passenger accessibility, vehicle dimensions and manoeuvrability.
One of the best-known requirements is the exceptionally tight turning circle traditionally associated with London taxis. A licensed purpose-built London taxi must be capable of turning within a 25-foot (7.62-metre) diameter.
Accessibility will also remain particularly important. The existing TX was designed to accommodate wheelchair users and includes features intended to make entering and leaving the vehicle easier for passengers with reduced mobility.
The TX6 will therefore need to combine new technology with the practical requirements that have made purpose-built taxis distinctive from conventional cars and private hire vehicles.
One of the biggest unanswered questions is whether the TX6 will retain a range-extender system or become a completely battery-electric vehicle.
The existing TX combines a 31kWh battery with a three-cylinder petrol range-extender engine. LEVC quotes an electric driving range of approximately 78 miles, while the petrol generator provides considerably greater overall operating range.
For a professional taxi, this arrangement offers an important advantage: drivers can complete shorter journeys using electric power while retaining the ability to continue operating when charging is inconvenient or unavailable.
Battery technology and charging infrastructure have advanced considerably since the existing TX was developed, making a fully electric successor increasingly technically feasible.
However, LEVC must balance several competing requirements.
A London taxi needs sufficient daily range, dependable rapid charging, generous passenger and luggage space, long-term durability and a purchase price that remains viable for professional drivers.
Whether LEVC believes today's battery technology can satisfy all those requirements without a range extender remains to be seen.
For now, the company has only confirmed that environmental sustainability and air quality remain important considerations in the development of its next-generation taxi.
The introduction of the TX represented one of the largest technological changes in the history of London's black cab.
LEVC says the switch towards electric operation has already delivered substantial environmental benefits.
According to figures published by the manufacturer, the TX fleet has prevented more than 450 million kilograms of CO₂ emissions and contributed to a 60% reduction in NOx emissions from London's taxi fleet. LEVC's calculations are based on an assumed average annual mileage of approximately 25,000 miles per taxi.
More than 12,000 TX taxis have been sold globally, according to company figures.
The vehicle is manufactured at LEVC's facility in Ansty, near Coventry.
LEVC has been owned by Chinese automotive group Geely since 2013, with its parent company investing heavily in the development of the manufacturer, its production facilities and electrified vehicle technology.
Confirmation of the TX6 comes at an important time for London's taxi sector.
Transport for London has been monitoring the availability of new purpose-built taxis amid industry concerns about the supply of replacement vehicles.
For professional drivers, certainty over future vehicle availability is particularly important because taxis are typically significant long-term investments and must satisfy requirements that ordinary passenger vehicles do not.
The arrival of another purpose-built model should therefore provide greater clarity about the future of London's traditional licensed taxi fleet.
It will also be interesting to see how the TX6 develops at a time when London's wider passenger transport market is changing rapidly.
Black cabs now operate alongside a substantial private hire sector, app-based services, chauffeur companies and specialist airport transfer operators, while passengers increasingly expect cleaner vehicles, digital booking options and transparent journey pricing.
LEVC currently plans to introduce its new taxi during the second half of 2027.
Before then, considerably more information will need to be revealed, including the final exterior and interior design, passenger capacity, powertrain, battery technology, electric range, charging speeds and pricing.
What is already clear is that LEVC intends the TX6 to remain recognisably a London black cab rather than abandoning the characteristics that have defined the vehicle for generations.
The challenge will be combining that heritage with the increasingly demanding requirements of modern urban transport.
For London passengers, visitors and professional drivers alike, the arrival of the TX6 will represent another significant step in the transformation of the capital's road transport towards cleaner and increasingly electrified vehicles.
While London's black cabs remain an important part of the capital's transport network, passengers travelling to or from an airport may prefer the certainty of a pre-booked private hire airport transfer.
Airports Transfer provides pre-booked transfers to and from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City Airport, with a range of vehicles available according to passenger and luggage requirements.
Pre-booking allows passengers to arrange their journey in advance, know their collection details before travelling and choose services such as airport Meet & Greet where available.
Written by Airports Transfer for passengers travelling to and from London airports.